Akti - Still Going Strong

Akti - 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.3530
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

I'm a big fan of this relatively new Greek/seafood restaurant on 30th Avenue. I've now been there twice--the second time for a celebratory dinner with Dan's mom--and I continue to be impressed by it.

Here are a couple of new things that I tried my second time around:

Spread Assortment: We started out with an assortment of spreads, including taramosalata (fish roe spread), tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber spread) and tyrokafteri (roasted pepper and feta cheese spread). These were really popular with the whole table and we insisted on leaving them in front of us for most of the meal. We dipped not only our pita bread into them but also spooned them on the side of our entrees. The tyrokafteri continues to be my favorite because of the fabulous zing it leaves on your tongue. The tzatziki was also great--very cooling and fragrant from the cucumbers.

Octopus Stew: This dish really impressed me because it was very different from what I'm used to. When it came out, it looked like something that would be served at Mombar--sort of like a tajine full of slow cooked ingredients. The dish contained tender octopus with sweet shallots in a white wine reduction. The spices were extraordinary and with the broth, they created a deliciously sweet stew--I'm suspecting that anise was used because of the licoricey flavor. I'm going to be honest and say that while I loved this dish, it's not for everyone. If you enjoy pungent ethnic flavors, you'll love it and if you veer on the side of caution, I'd stay away.

Marinated Greek Olives: Kimberly had good things to say about these, so naturally we tried them. She was right--the olives were marinated in the most wonderful mixture of olive oil, parsley, oregano and garlic. I preferred the green ones but both types were very good.

Fried Calamari: Dan requested this specifically and it was solid. After having Akti's seafood now on different occasions, I could say with confidence that it's top notch. The calamari was large and shaped beautifully in round ringlets ,which were interspersed with wild tentacles. It came seasoned with parsley and lemon wedges, which added more freshness and great flavor. Please note that these do not come with marinara sauce--Akti is after all a Greek restaurant--but you can ask for some and the gracious waitstaff will be happy to provide it.

Greek Cypriot Village Sausage: Dan and I are big meat eaters so we naturally rooted for this--and it delivered. It looks very rustic on the plate--two large rounded links, bursting at the seams where the slits were made. It was a nice peasant dish, simple at its core but packed with so many fragrant spices and meat that I could've eaten another portion. The skin was especially good and crispy from the grill. It reminded me of my beloved kielbasa that I get at the Beer Garden.

Grilled Pork Chops: Dan's dad, David ordered this and he seemed pleased. I tasted it too but it wasn't my favorite dish--the meat was a bit tough and not juicy enough. But there were no complaints from David and he polished it off and even took some home with him because the portion was so large.

Grilled Red Snapper: As I mentioned, Akti really shines with their seafood. The snapper was delightful--light and flaky with nice hints of char from the grill and a citrusy tang from the capers. Make no mistake, this dish is rustic, (with the head still on) and if you'd like it deboned you have to ask for it. I enjoyed it very much and so did everyone else, commenting on its freshness and great flavor. By the time we were done with it, the head was all that was left.

Dessert: It was hard to say yes to dessert after the meal we just had but when they brought out a complimentary round, how could we refuse? Our sweet finish consisted of two types of honey cakes--coconut and walnut. I preferred the walnut because it was super moist and spiced with cinnamon. It was so airy and delicious that I'm certain I ate more than one piece. Dan and his parents seem to enjoy the coconut-honey cake more so that worked out nicely.

Service and Cost:
The service was outstanding, just like last time. Our waiter was on the ball, making suggestions, telling jokes, smiling and keeping the service flowing. He did a good job recommending wine to Dan's mom Vicki and he was attentive with all aspects of the meal.

The cost was again reasonable--the huge dinner, which I just described cost us about $40/per person (including alcohol). I have to be frank and say that we got a couple of things on the house but still, the prices won't break the bank--especially if you share a bunch of dishes with your dining companions.

3 Enthusiastic Mmmms

Zenon Taverna - A Scrumptious Taste of Cyprus

Zenon Taverna - 34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106

718.956.0133

N/W Train to Broadway

www.zenontaverna.com

My colleague Meg from Joey in Astoria inspired me to come here. After reading her post about Zenon and the amazing value you get, I had to experience it for myself. Margot, Jen and I had a lovely and very peaceful dinner there on Tuesday night. Our wallets did not suffer and our bellies were quite happy in the end. I highly recommend visiting this Astorian well kept (until now) secret.

Atmosphere:

There's no other way to say it, Zenon Taverna feels like a home. Although the space isn't small it's on the narrow side, making it feel intimate. The decor falls very much in line with a Greek Taverna--lots of blues and whites and plenty of colorful murals depicting Greece and the Mediterranean. The back of the restaurant has a gorgeous, rustic credenza, with authentic clay trinkets from the home country.

Although we visited Zenon on a Tuesday, when it was quiet, I have a feeling that this place doesn't get too crowded. I personally love this kind of atmosphere and would be willing to try Zenon for a group birthday party. Something about the decor, which made me smile were their serving plates--all are vintage and different from one another. They really look like something that came out of my mom's or grandma's kitchen.

Food:

I've heard good things about the food and had high expectations, which were fully met. My dining companions agreed and we especially appreciated the freshness of Zenon's ingredients. Our dinner consisted of:

Bread (on the house) and Salad: I normally wouldn't write about a bread basket because it's so standard but this one went above and beyond the call of duty. The basket was generous and consisted of three bread varieties--Italian, olive focaccia and good ol' warm pita. The pita and olive focaccia were to die for and we kept dipping them into Zenon's fruity olive oil.

The salad was great too and came with Margot's and my dishes. It was a plain chopped Greek salad but the veggies were so juicy and fresh that I must make note of it here. The tomatoes and the olives were my favorite and while I'm not a huge fan of an ordinary salad, this one was exceptional.

Souvlaki kai Sheftalia (Pork Kebab and Meatball Combo) - I ordered the platter portion and Jen got the appetizer. Both were so generous that we couldn't finish them and had our respective man friends (Dan and Ted) polish them off at home. They tasted amazing and incorporated many fragrant Mediterranean spices such as oregano and cumin. Our platters came with chopped onions and fresh parsley, which were both excellent but one thing was missing--the tzatziki sauce!

We loved the sides that came with our meat--especially me. Jen chose the black eyed peas in olive oil and lemon and I got the Cypriot fries. The black eyed peas were creamy, light and a bit fruity from the olive oil. My Cypriot fries were by far my favorite food at Zenon. They looked like potato chips, except that they were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I've never seen these served anywhere else and highly recommend trying them. If you like fries, you will love Cypriot fries, which come seasoned with dried parsley, salt and pepper.

Octapodi (Octopus): Margot was brave and went for the grilled octopus. I tried it and it was fresh, not overcooked and much better than at Akti, which is not meant to be an insult. Margot seemed happy with it too and finished her generous portion, which came with a side of lemon potatoes. She wasn't wild about them and said they were pretty standard and lacked pizazz.

Fresh Fruit (on the house) - This was such a lovely surprise at the end of our meal--freshly cut apples and oranges were put on the table. We welcomed them, as they were succulent palate cleansers. Nice touch Zenon--thank you!

House Wine: The three of us enjoyed Zenon's house wine--Margot and Jen opted for the red and I got white. They were $5 a glass--what value! Margot and Jen got a small carafe, which was actually the same price as 2 regular glasses but it gave them an extra 1/2 a glass each. The carafe is worth getting not only for value but also for its charm--it was a beautiful hand painted clay mini-jug (see above picture). Too cool for words!

Service and Cost:

The waistaff did a good job and was unobtrusive. Our waiter was young and I suspect he was a son or a cousin of Zenon's owner. Just my speculation but it seems like this place is very much a family run business. Polite and attentive, our waiter made sure to wrap our dishes and we didn't feel rushed to leave.

The prices here are very reasonable and you've already heard about their generous portions. Appetizers run between $3.95-$13.95, entrees between $11.95 - $35.95 (a rack of lamb for 2) and dessert between $3.75-$3.95. Another thing which has to be touted is their unbelievable mezedes tasting--16, yes 16 hot and cold mezedes for $17.95 per person. Have you EVER heard of anything more indulgent and affordable?!

3 very effusive Mmmms

Akti - Worth the Wait

Akti Restaurant - 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103

718.721.3530

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

I've been following Akti's big opening for quite some time and after much waiting (a year!), this new Greek eatery is finally here. I had the chance to sample their exquisite dishes last week and have to say that I will definitely return--and soon. Aside from my own experience, a group of my friends also tried Akti this past weekend and were very pleased.

Atmosphere:

Akti's decor is modern and clean. You'll notice lots of royal blues, symbolizing the ocean--this is after all a seafood restaurant. A really cool feature that goes along with the theme is the waterfall window at the front of the house--kind of psychedelic, it makes you stare in amazement.

Outdoor seating is available on nice days and I had the pleasure to experience it. While it's pleasant to enjoy the warm breeze and observe the happs of 30th Ave, I thought that the tables were a bit small--especially for larger parties. Akti's patrons vary in age but I definitely observed a predominantly young and trendy crowd.

Food:

Fresh, interesting and delicious are words to describe Akti's cuisine. The seafood, which is the specialty here is fantastic and I definitely recommend trying at least one fish entree. The fun thing about the menu is that you get one per table. It comes with a dry-erase pen, you mark your choices directly on the menu and then hand it over to your waitress. I really enjoyed this new way of ordering, especially because of the direct interaction with the menu and with my dining companions. And here's what we chose:

Tyrokafteri (Roasted peppers and feta cheese spread) - This dish had tons of flavor and spice but it didn't feel heavy. We started spreading it on our toasted pita and even continued to eat it with other dishes such as zucchini croquettes.

Haloumi (Grilled goat cheese with tomato in pita bread) - Wow! Another beautiful dish! The cheese had gorgeous grill marks and the combination of the tomato and the lemon gave this starter a zesty and refreshing bite. Because the cheese is filling, it's nice to share this with at least two other people.

Kolokithokeftedes (Zucchini croquettes with tzatziki sauce) - These were the best zucchini croquettes that I've had on 30th Avenue--hands down. I'm sorry to say but they beat Ovelia's version, which is pretty damn good. Akti's are crispy on the outside and deliciously hearty on the inside. They're seasoned beautifully with oregano and parsley and when dipped into fresh tzatziki, they're your mouth's best dream. This dish is a must!

Oktapodi Sta Karvouna (Grilled octopus) - I'm a fan of grilled octopus and it was done well here. It had nice char marks from the grill and was cut into bite-size pieces, which was convenient. While I enjoyed it, it wasn't my favorite grilled octopus because it was a bit chewy.

Tsipoura (Porgy) - We ordered this entree to share between the three of us and it was definitely enough. Presented in its full glory with the head, tail and bones in tact, this gentle tasting fish was grilled to perfection. Despite the bones, it was really easy to take apart and after we spritzed some lemon on it, it reached a whole new level of freshness. Our porgy came with a side dish of choice--the Patates Tiganites (Greek fries). Seasoned with oregano and grated cheese, they were definitely a step up from American fries. My only wish was that they could've been crispier.

The Wine: Akti has a wonderful selection of Greek wines, which are easy on the wallet. And since we didn't know too much about them, we asked our waitress for a recommendation. We ended up getting a sweet white wine with fruit undertones, which was so gentle on the senses and enhanced the flavor of our food and especially the fish. A bottle was only $24, giving us 2 full glasses each.

Service and Cost:
The waitstaff was especially attentive during our visit probably because Akti is so new. Our waitress was lovely--smiling and always ready to give us her helpful 2 cents. My only complaint was that it took a really long time (half hour) to get the check. I'm not sure if the staff was just letting us chat away leisurely or if they forgot about us.

The prices are definitely wallet-friendly, especially given the large portions. A full dinner with a bottle of wine, appetizers and an entree only set us back $32 each. Starters range between $6-$13, fish entrees are in the neighborhood of $17-$21 and wines generally range in the mid $20's. My friends who came here in a larger pack said that dinner for 5 was only $160--again, $32 each!

3 Mmmms

Corner 26 Taverna - Greek Comfort Food

Corner 26 Taverna - 26-02 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.777.5511

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Living only a block and an avenue from this local Taverna, I've been meaning to try it for some time. I finally had the chance to go last week and was quite happy with my visit. Hands down, the most authentic Greek food--and atmosphere--I've experienced to date. But don't expect anything fancy, Taverna is a simple place with an intense family feel.

Atmosphere:

Like I said, this place is modest and traditional--no frills. The space is small, seating up to twenty indoors and about fifteen outdoors in the warm weather. The tables are a bit cramped and we unfortunately got stuck near the door--enduring its constant opening and closing, feeling the chill of the night.

The walls have two gargantuan paintings of the Mediterranean Sea and of the Greek villages that surround it--kind of overpowering but at the same time powerful. The patrons that visit Taverna are definitely regulars. They know what's on the menu and they mostly speak Greek. Yes, we did feel a little out of place here, but my philosophy is "When in Astoria..." The background music was a favorite ambiance builder for me. It was all traditional Greek--uplifting, boisterous and folky.

Food:

The menu isn't extensive and contains Greek classics--lamb, fish, various spreads etc. The descriptions of the dishes are very clear so you know exactly what you're getting. Here's what we tried:

Fried Whiting with Scordalia: For those unfamiliar with Whiting, it's a white fish that's found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. I was expecting a nice big fillet but what I got were four huge pieces--tails and bones still intact. More than what I'm used to, but once I got past the "authentic" presentation, I demolished it with gusto. The fish was simple yet flavored superbly--with hints of butter and lemon on the side. The actual fish was so light that eating four pieces didn't take very long. The side of scordalia (cold garlic mashed potato salad) was also tasty but a bit heavy on the stomach--I think they used too much garlic.

Gyro Platter: This was Dan's dish and he pretty much finished it all. The lamb was to his liking and wasn't greasy, as is the case sometimes with gyro meat. He also commented that the pita was toasted well and the tzatziki tasted homemade. The fries were exceptional and not soggy--which was the complaint about Pinocchio Palace.

Dessert: We were delighted to receive a complimentary dessert of semolina and cinnamon squares. They were light, sweet and bite sized--hitting the spot. The gesture was lovely and did not go unnoticed.

The Wine: This is one of the best deals on wine I've seen in Astoria. Taverna offers Greek house wine for $3 a glass and $4.50 for a small pitcher. I tried the house white and I liked it a lot and would definitely get it again.

Service and Cost:

Taverna has a hostess and a waitress and they're both the same person. She was friendly, quick and of course Greek--speaking the language fluently. She took our orders promptly and made sure we were happy with our meals. Because the restaurant was busy, she couldn't spend time at our table to give us that special touch but under the circumstances we understood.

I cannot believe how reasonable this place is! We paid a total of $26 for two large entrees, a beer and wine. Appetizers range from $4-$9, entrees from $8-$18 and side dishes from $2.50-$4. Make sure to bring cash though, Taverna does not accept credit cards.

2 Mmmms

Christos Steakhouse - A True Hidden Gem

Christos Steakhouse - 41-08 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.777.8400

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.christossteakhouse.com

Dan and I came here to celebrate his 29th birthday last week--and man, were we impressed! Although somewhat hidden in our 'hood, this old school steakhouse really shines in all areas--the food, the service and the atmosphere are all fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone for a special occasion or just an all around great meal. Watch out Peter Luger, Christos is a serious competitor!

Atmosphere:

Christos is the epitome of a good, traditional steakhouse. The decor is simple yet classic with a lot of wood embellishments and simple wooden tables and chairs. The coolest part about the front of the house is the huge lobster tank, which separates the lounge area from the formal dining room. Sitting right next to this thing, we saw lobsters being fished out and brought straight into the kitchen for preparation--this way you knew you were getting fresh seafood.

Another interesting thing about Christos is that they have a butcher shop, offering raw cuts of meat for sale. How cool is that? The beautiful red meat greets you as you walk in--you see it in the front window with the prices and all. While some would find this a bit too raw and real, I loved it--the gorgeous meat communicating a sort of authenticity and confidence to the customer.

Food:

The food here really surpassed our expectations. And in addition to traditional steakhouse dishes, they also offer several Greek specialties such as assorted Greek spreads, Saganaki--a pan fried Greek cheese, Loukaniko--Greek sausage; and so much more. Dan and I stuck to the basics and here's a taste of our celebration dinner:

Christos Baked Clams: A combination of clams oreganato and clams casino, this starter blew us away. We couldn't decide which we liked better because both were superb-ly hearty and fresh--and had a great salty but not fishy taste. The clams casino were topped with crispy bacon which was definitely the piece-de-resistance, while the clams oreganato had a refreshing citrusy essence with a loud crunch from the breadcrumbs. Far out!

The Steak:

Dan went for the big boy--the 24 oz Ribeye--and I got the 18 oz. Steak au Poivre with Metaxa Brandy sauce. Once again, we scored with these, and demolished them vigorously. Dan got his steak medium rare and boasted about its soft texture and juicy interior. And although it was a 24 ouncer, he was able to finish it because of the bone that ran down the middle.

My steak was also something special. The cut of meat was a Ribeye, infused with extra deliciousness that came from the sauce. The concoction included peppercorns, shallots, Metaxa and the luxuriousness of cream, which brought it all together. And again, while the portion was large, I finished it with grace--and with the help from an outside bone.

The Sides:

We ordered creamed spinach and fried onion rings for our side dishes. The creamed spinach was nice and silky while still earthy. It came topped with crispy shoestring onions, which we both couldn't get enough of.

The onion rings were beer battered and presented beautifully in a size order stack. While they tasted fine, this was the only dish we weren't impressed with. The batter was a bit bland and didn't do much to enhance the steak. We much rather prefer the bodacious onion rings they serve at Ruth's Chris.

Dessert:

Dessert was da bomb and included a silky creme brulee with dark chocolate, lining the bottom of the bowl. We both thought this was the most exceptional creme brulee we've ever had--no exaggeration. The custard was decadent, creamy and tasted of fresh vanilla. And the chocolate on the bottom was a fun surprise that we both looked forward to and devoured ridiculously quickly.

Service and Cost:

The service was impeccable. All of the waiters looked and sounded serious about their work and we held them in the highest regard for expertise. Every time we asked something, it seemed like they anticipated it beforehand and had an answer or a recommendation lined up. Our waiter was polite, proper and knowledgeable about the different cuts of meat offered. He made a great recommendation for our steaks, getting us genuinely excited for our meal.

Christos is definitely a splurge. For a three course dinner, including an appetizer, main course, dessert and a drink, I paid $65 per person. Appetizers go for $10-$20, steaks range from $28-$96 and desserts are mainly in the $8 range.

3 Mmmms

Ovelia - Brunch Overload--in a Good Way!

Ovelia Psistaria - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.7217

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

www.ovelia-ny.com

I'm a bit partial to this more-than-just-a-cafe eatery, owned by Astoria natives--and two sets of brothers--Chris and Peter Giannakas and Elias and Mark Mandilaras. Thanks to them, Ovelia emanates energy and style to the max--and it has the customers to prove it. Although we had to wait more than 40 minutes to be seated for brunch, as always it was well worth it. The place was even busier than usual because they supported Time Out For Hunger where 10% of proceeds went to help relieve hungry New Yorkers.

Atmosphere:

Modern and welcoming, Ovelia certainly falls out of the 30th Avenue cookie-cutter cafe mold. The decor is eclectic and interesting--and varies depending on where you sit. The front is open and bright with traditional tables, the middle is funky with Picasso-esque art and brass tables and the back is more private with contemporary art and marble tables. So basically, you could choose your setting based on your mood that day--there are plenty of options.

The coolest part of Ovelia in my opinion is the bar--it's made of concrete and subtly shines with fiber optic lights. Yet another non-food piece-de-resistance is the garage door window that opens up on warm, sunny days.

Food:

The extensive brunch is what draws in a lot of customers. Ovelia does a great job of mixing traditional Greek cuisine with modern American tastes. Think French toast stuffed with Greek yogurt and honey or pancakes paired with homemade sausage--made from a family recipe. Here are the dishes we enjoyed this past Sunday:

Tiropita Toast - Served with sliced apples, bacon, cream cheese and apple chutney, this is yet another interesting specialty I haven't seen at other Greek joints. What makes the "toast" special is the homemade bread--a flatbread made with what else but Feta cheese. The result is crispy and flavorful and I loved the pairing of sweet (apple) and savory (bacon). The cream cheese melted nicely and the apple chutney was gentle on the tongue, seducing it completely!

Turkey, Mushroom and Bechamel Crepes - I split these with Kimberly and they were truly amazing, my favorite part being the creamy bechamel sauce on top and on the inside. The mushrooms were a lovely surprise in the middle and the dish was light despite its hearty ingredients. You get three huge crepes with this order so be prepared to share with others.

Our other dining compadres were also loving their dishes. Joe ordered poached eggs on English muffins with crispy hash on the side--and his clean plate was proof of his satisfaction. Same went for Maria who stuck with a lunch basic of chicken Caesar Salad and also had an empty plate by meal's end. Shaya got the stuffed French Toast and I heard no complaints--I think she was especially impressed by the homemade sausage.

Service and Cost:

As always, the service here is super quick and efficient. Although our waitress was new, she was competent and friendly--often cracking a smile and offering as much advice as she could. One thing to note is that because we waited so long, we were offered a free round of morning cocktails on the house. This meant a lot to us, and we happily waited another couple of minutes while toasting to a fun get together with our sweet Mimosas.

The prices here are excellent and yet again offer great value. Depending on what you get, brunch will cost you between $10-$13 per person. This includes coffee/tea, an entree and a morning cocktail--good stuff.

3 Mmmms

Omonia Cafe - My Big Fat Astorian Brunch

Omonia Cafe - 32-20 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106

718.274.6650

N/W Train to Broadway

Crystal and I scoped out the amazing brunch deal at Omonia last week and this past weekend I went over there to check it out. The special consists of coffee/tea/juice, an entree, dessert and a morning cocktail for just $12.95. Incredible but is the food good? I give it a confident yes...check out my commentary below.

Atmosphere:

A trademark of the neighborhood, Omonia has been in existence since 1977. It's famous for elaborate Greek desserts--so much so that it baked the wedding cake for the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. They proudly display this accolade in their window--a worthy bragging right in my opinion.

Omonia has recently gone through a redesign and the decor is now cheery and contemporary. I have to admit that I used to stay away from this place in the past because of the smokers--despite the law, you could find an occasional smoker in the main dining room and that just ruined my appetite. But I'm happy to say that this is no more and Omonia is now a lovely, clean and smoke free environment. The space is open and very colorful. A tad on the cheesy side but still endearing and really friendly. We sat in the covered area near the windows, which is opened up in the summer. It made for a fun experience and made us feel in the center of the action.

Food:

There were so many choices to make for brunch--between all the entrees and desserts, everything sounded so appetizing. My cousins Tibor and Stephanie (and I) all ordered the Strapatsada and Dan got the Western omelette. Both were generous sized dishes and their taste was delightful.

Strapatsada: To give this dish a nickname, I'd dub it the "Grecian Scramble." It consisted of rustic scrambled eggs, feta cheese, tomatoes, olives and Mediterranean seasoning. A side of grilled pita accompanied this beauty and all three of us finished it to the last bite. Unlike some scrambled egg dishes which could be bland, this was anything but--and what I think made it awesome was the fragrant seasoning and the sauce. I certainly tasted oregano and a tomato-based sauce which hit the spot and made this dish ethnic.

Western Omelette: This sounds too ordinary right? I thought the same and personally didn't even think about getting it at a Greek place. Dan was really happy with it though and I could tell you why. I think the trick was that all the ingredients were fully integrated into the egg. And as you see from this picture, there were huge hunks of onions, peppers and ham nestled in every nook and cranny of this thing. I tasted it and it was right on--my favorite part being that it was slightly well done, giving the outside a yummy brown crust.

The Desserts: I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed in this area. The desserts we ordered were just OK, aside from Tibor's flan, which he loved. My Baklava was on the dry side, Dan's Black Forrest cake was bland and Stephanie's Amygdalou was just not what she was expecting--too nutty! To be extra gluttonous, we also ordered the DaVinci crepe. This, unlike the other desserts was spectacular--maybe because it was on the entree menu. The whipped cream was really fresh and reminded me of the fruit cup topping from my childhood in Europe. The filling was also luscious and creamy--with strawberries and silky Nutella. How could you go wrong?

Service and Cost:

We were very happy with the service and our waitress was friendly and kind. She gave us recommendations and even laughed with us when we tried to pronounce some of the hard-core Greek dishes. Overall she was a good sport and a pleasant server.

The cost, you already know is dynamite. $12.95 will get you a coffee/tea/juice, an entree, dessert of choice and a morning cocktail such as a mimosa, bloody Mary or a screwdriver.

3 Mmmms

Mezzo Mezzo - Just Barely So-So

Mezzo Mezzo Restaurant - 31-29 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.278.0444

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.mezzomezzony.com

Mezzo is a longtime Greek staple in the neighborhood. It wasn't our first choice for dinner when on Ditmars--we were actually trying to eat at the well-known Taverna Cyclades but the wait was too long. We settled for Mezzo--and unfortunately endured an evening of culinary disappointment.

Atmosphere:
The wonderful atmosphere is what persuaded us to come here. Outdoor seating is inviting, especially in warm weather and the rustic taverna exterior has a home country feel. The interior is even more interesting--you'll find unique wooden tables and chairs that almost look hand crafted. It kind of resembles a cabin from Goldilocks and the Three Bears, where you never know what you'll discover next.

The crowd at Mezzo ranges from young twenty somethings to older patrons who've been coming here for years. Everyone dresses casual to match the comfortable, homey scene. And you can be sure to hear some beautiful Greek spoken--both by the patrons and the waitstaff.

Food:

Judging by the authentic atmosphere, I thought the food would be spot-on but I was so wrong. Click for menu. We started with a seafood appetizer of stuffed clams. These were filled with breadcrumbs and topped with melted mozzarella cheese, served on a bed of salad. Let me just say that the only good thing about this dish was the salad. The clams were so salty and so fishy that we had to request more pita bread to get the rancid taste out of our mouths.

Next came my lamb souvlaki and Dan's seafood souvlaki. It's a Greek place so how could they mess this up? Lo and behold, they were both disasters. My lamb was too thick and chewy--I had to drink a lot of water to get it down. The only good part about my dish was the white rice--and because I was so hungry I polished it off quickly. Dan's seafood souvlaki was no better. He said the seafood was too salty and tasted unfresh--clearly a bad sign. The veggies and lemon potatoes were to his liking but that could've been his hunger talking.

The only thing that I liked here was the complimentary dessert that came at the end of our meal. It was called "ekmek" (not sure of the spelling) and consisted of semolina cake topped with Greek yogurt and cinnamon. It was light, had interesting texture and tasted fresh. I would certainly recommend it!

Service and Cost:
Despite our disappointing food, the service was impeccable. Our waiter was on-point with every aspect of service--great attitude, efficient, perceptive. He clearly saw that we weren't liking our meal and offered free dessert to lift our spirits--this really scored points with both of us.

I expected Mezzo to be cheaper than it was. Dinner for two including an appetizer and two entrees (no alcoholic drinks) was almost $70--not worth the money, in my book. Appetizers range from $5.90-$10.90 and entrees go for $13.90-$20.90.